Go Back
french green beans
Gracious Cooking

French Green Beans With Shallots, Dijon, And Honey

These easy French green beans are tender (but still crisp), quick to make, and full of honey and Dijon flavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 and ½ pounds fresh green beans either regular green beans or haricot verts.
  • ice
  • 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 shallot finely diced
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1 Tablespoon cold butter salted or unsalted
  • ½ cup roughly chopped almonds optional

Equipment

  • 1 chef's knife
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 large pot
  • 1 strainer
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 kitchen towel
  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 pair of tongs
  • 1 serving dish optional

Method
 

Blanch The Green Beans
  1. Trim the ends off of the green beans and finely dice the shallot. Roughly chop the almonds. Set aside.
  2. Fill a large mixing bowl with cold water and ice. This is the ice bath.
  3. Bring enough water to cover the green beans by at least 3 or 4 inches to a rolling boil in a large pot over high heat. Once the water is boiling, add about 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt per quart of water.
  4. Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Remove the beans from the boiling water and immediately plunge them into the ice bath. After the green beans are cold all the way through, remove them from the ice bath and dry them in a single layer with a clean kitchen towel. Set aside.
Sauté The Green Beans
  1. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add two Tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and the finely diced shallots and cook until they are soft, just a couple of minutes.
  2. Add the dried green beans to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the beans are soft, but still have some crispness to them, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the Dijon mustard and honey. Use the tongs to turn and stir the green beans to coat.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cold butter. Use the tongs to turn and toss the beans to coat again.
  5. Remove the green beans to your serving dish and top with the chopped almonds, if using. Enjoy!